Int J Oral Biol.  2012 Mar;37(1):37-41.

The Transcription Factor Mist1 Regulates the Cellular Polarity in Mouse Pancreatic Acinar Cells

• Yang YM
• Lee SI
• Shin DM

Abstract

Pancreatic acinar cells exhibit a polarity that is characterized by the localization of secretory granules at the apical membrane. However, the factors that regulate cellular polarity in these cells are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of Mist1, a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, on the cellular architecture of pancreatic acinar cells. Mist1-null mice displayed secretory granules that were diffuse throughout the pancreatic acinar cells, from the apical to basolateral membranes, whereas Mist1 heterozygote mice showed apical localization of secretory granules. Deletion of the Mist1 gene decreased the expression of type 3 inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptors (IP3R) but did not affect apical localization and expression of IP3R2. Mist1-null mice also displayed an increase in luminal areas and an increase in the expression of zymogen granules in pancreatic acinar cells. These results suggest that Mist1 plays a critical role in polar localization of cellular organelles and in maintaining cellular architecture in mouse pancreatic acinar cells.

Keyword

cell polarity; Mist1; secretory vesicles; pancreatic acinar cells

MeSH Terms

Acinar Cells
Animals
Cell Polarity
Heterozygote
Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors
Membranes
Mice
Organelles
Phenobarbital
Secretory Vesicles
Transcription Factors
Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors
Phenobarbital
Transcription Factors